Sept. 11, 2011 It's never too early to Dream

[Retroloco]

We are flying. Our tickets were not as cheap as last two trips but still under $100 each way. Our first trip we took the auto train down. It leaves Lorton, Va around 3:30 in the afternoon and you arrive at around 8:00 the next morning in a town about an hour from Disney. That was a neat experience and you don't have to rent a car because your car gets a train ride too. The kiddos loved eating dinner and breakfast on the train, sleeping in the sleeper car. Showers were not the biggest in the world

Thanks for the info! I checked into the auto train and round trip it's not as cheap as us driving down Are you flying in the day before and renting a hotel room for Saturday night? How are you getting to the hotel from the airport, if that is what you are doing?
Thanks again!
Tina

 

[gerberdaisy1234]

We are flying. Our tickets were not as cheap as last two trips but still under $100 each way. Our first trip we took the auto train down. It leaves Lorton, Va around 3:30 in the afternoon and you arrive at around 8:00 the next morning in a town about an hour from Disney. That was a neat experience and you don't have to rent a car because your car gets a train ride too. The kiddos loved eating dinner and breakfast on the train, sleeping in the sleeper car. Showers were not the biggest in the world

Thanks for the info! I checked into the auto train and round trip it's not as cheap as us driving down Are you flying in the day before and renting a hotel room for Saturday night? How are you getting to the hotel from the airport, if that is what you are doing?
Thanks again!
Tina

Yes, the auto train is not really a money saver. At the time we did it, it was cheaper than flying and renting a vehicle but I don't think that is true any more. It would be something to do for the "experience" or as most of the passengers were- if you are a "snowbird."

We booked a three bedroom/two bathroom condo at Windsor Hills for two weeks at $299 per week! We arrive Saturday. It will be nice to leave extra clothes, etc. at the condo and only take what we need for the cruise. We stayed at Windsor Hills last trip and loved it! We were only five minutes from Animal Kingdom. As a matter of fact my niece was doing the college program and working at Animal Kingdom. We were closer to AK than her Disney apartment! So of course she stayed with us quite a few nights.

My children are doing a animation class through the YES program the Friday after the cruise. So we got 4- 8 day park hoppers plus 8 visits to water parks or Disney Quest, plus their class for $835.68!

 

[GetGlowing]

We took the regular passenger (non-Auto) train from Columbia SC to Orlando the last time we visited WDW and it was great. That will be our plan for Orlando or WDW visits from here on out. The best part is you're fresh when you arrive. You're not mentally and physically fatigued from driving for hours and hours.

We've looked into taking the train down for our cruise, but there's no station convenient to Port Canaveral and we're not interested in renting a car to sit at the port all week. So we'll be driving.

BTW, The passenger train skips the Sanford stop, which is only for the Auto Train.

 

[JustTJ]

We took the regular passenger (non-Auto) train from Columbia SC to Orlando the last time we visited WDW and it was great. That will be our plan for Orlando or WDW visits from here on out. The best part is you're fresh when you arrive. You're not mentally and physically fatigued from driving for hours and hours.

We've looked into taking the train down for our cruise, but there's no station convenient to Port Canaveral and we're not interested in renting a car to sit at the port all week. So we'll be driving.

BTW, The passenger train skips the Sanford stop, which is only for the Auto Train.

You could do a one way rental from wherever the train lets you off (some rental companies here will come pick you up, do they do that in the U.S. too?) Budget and one other company work from near the port in which to drop off the car. Thats what I've arranged to do. Though we are picking up the car at MCO the day before our cruise, and dropping it off at the rental place at the port early the morning of the cruise. The rental place is two minutes from the cruise terminal and they have free shuttles that will then take you to the terminal.

 

[aafdmom]

Hi Everyone!

Well just 4 months now we will be cruising on the Atlantic! Time sure is going by 120 days....ahhhhh nothing now compared to the 517 days when we booked t his cruise

Also, just 11 days till the grandbaby is due! Am so excited, I am beside my self lol Will keep ya posted on this event

Have a great night!


Sue

 

[GetGlowing]

JustTJ, we must be staying at the Country Inn the same night based on the other thread I just replied to. I'll keep checking prices on the CI&S site and start prowling Priceline forums, too, to try for something better than my $139 + tax rate.

Anyone else staying at Country Inn pre-cruise?

We're really throwing around the idea of taking the train rather than driving, but my in-laws will be at their Orlando condo that same week (pure coincidence), and I don't want to be at their mercy for transportation, which is what will happen if we don't have our car. SO ....

but the train really spoiled me last time!!

 

[davidls]

It's Friday !!!!! It took it all week..............but it finally got here.
DW and I are heading over to WDW this evening after work. We are celebrating our 45th Wedding Anniversary!!! (She sure is lucky...............I mean...........I sure am lucky she kept me around all of these years!!!) Hope ya'll have a great week-end!!!

 

[GetGlowing]

Happy anniversary!!

What a fabulous way to celebrate.

 

[dennismcneely]

It's Friday !!!!! It took it all week..............but it finally got here.
DW and I are heading over to WDW this evening after work. We are celebrating our 45th Wedding Anniversary!!! (She sure is lucky...............I mean...........I sure am lucky she kept me around all of these years!!!) Hope ya'll have a great week-end!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

 

[nikicares]

It's Friday !!!!! It took it all week..............but it finally got here.
DW and I are heading over to WDW this evening after work. We are celebrating our 45th Wedding Anniversary!!! (She sure is lucky...............I mean...........I sure am lucky she kept me around all of these years!!!) Hope ya'll have a great week-end!!!

Wishing you both a wonderful Anniversary!

Jealous you get to spend it at Disney... we spent our honeymoon there, and its been almost 8 years since we have got to go back to WDW... but we have taken several Disney cruises to ease my Disney fix!

 

[Retroloco]

Yes, the auto train is not really a money saver. At the time we did it, it was cheaper than flying and renting a vehicle but I don't think that is true any more. It would be something to do for the "experience" or as most of the passengers were- if you are a "snowbird."

We booked a three bedroom/two bathroom condo at Windsor Hills for two weeks at $299 per week! We arrive Saturday. It will be nice to leave extra clothes, etc. at the condo and only take what we need for the cruise. We stayed at Windsor Hills last trip and loved it! We were only five minutes from Animal Kingdom. As a matter of fact my niece was doing the college program and working at Animal Kingdom. We were closer to AK than her Disney apartment! So of course she stayed with us quite a few nights.

My children are doing a animation class through the YES program the Friday after the cruise. So we got 4- 8 day park hoppers plus 8 visits to water parks or Disney Quest, plus their class for $835.68!

We have decided to drive. Final decision, I think I was really hoping to go on the autotrain, for the experience, but it's so expensive compared to driving! Thanks for the advice. Wow what a bargain on the tickets! That will be nice not to have to head home directly from the cruise.

 

[Retroloco]

We took the regular passenger (non-Auto) train from Columbia SC to Orlando the last time we visited WDW and it was great. That will be our plan for Orlando or WDW visits from here on out. The best part is you're fresh when you arrive. You're not mentally and physically fatigued from driving for hours and hours.

We've looked into taking the train down for our cruise, but there's no station convenient to Port Canaveral and we're not interested in renting a car to sit at the port all week. So we'll be driving.

BTW, The passenger train skips the Sanford stop, which is only for the Auto Train.

How long will it take you guys to drive down? We used to live about an hour and a half from Columbia!

Tina

 

[Retroloco]

JustTJ, we must be staying at the Country Inn the same night based on the other thread I just replied to. I'll keep checking prices on the CI&S site and start prowling Priceline forums, too, to try for something better than my $139 + tax rate.

Anyone else staying at Country Inn pre-cruise?

We're really throwing around the idea of taking the train rather than driving, but my in-laws will be at their Orlando condo that same week (pure coincidence), and I don't want to be at their mercy for transportation, which is what will happen if we don't have our car. SO ....

but the train really spoiled me last time!!

We really wanted to stay at Country Inn, but booked Comfort Inn instead. It was about $30 cheaper. Maybe we can all meet up for dinner or something? And we always like to have our own transpo, so I completely understand not wanting to depend on your in-laws!

 

[nikicares]

Woot Woot! We just booked our Palo Brunch (we have never been able to get it for this) and our Cabana on Castaway! So excited!

I am still debating on Remy Reservations... wondering if any of you have done Remy yet and if you felt the extra charge is worth it?!

Working on my FE gifts, and with each one I am getting more and more excited! Do we have a updated FE count? Thanks!

 

[Retroloco]

Woot Woot! We just booked our Palo Brunch (we have never been able to get it for this) and our Cabana on Castaway! So excited!

I am still debating on Remy Reservations... wondering if any of you have done Remy yet and if you felt the extra charge is worth it?!

Working on my FE gifts, and with each one I am getting more and more excited! Do we have a updated FE count? Thanks!

Hi we haven't done Remy yet, but have done Palo on our last 2 cruises and loved it!!! Can't wait to book it this time around. I need to lose 10 pounds cause I'm sure I'll gain at least 5 on the cruise We just got our room number! I'm so excited!

Tina

 

[Shannon1984]

JustTJ, we must be staying at the Country Inn the same night based on the other thread I just replied to. I'll keep checking prices on the CI&S site and start prowling Priceline forums, too, to try for something better than my $139 + tax rate.

Anyone else staying at Country Inn pre-cruise?

We're really throwing around the idea of taking the train rather than driving, but my in-laws will be at their Orlando condo that same week (pure coincidence), and I don't want to be at their mercy for transportation, which is what will happen if we don't have our car. SO ....

but the train really spoiled me last time!!

We will be staying at CI&S as well. we are leaving after school on Friday so we hope to make it there by 11 or so on Saturday. We have 8 people in our group! We also paid @130. We did the park and cruise package. It saved a lot on parking at the port.

I am also very excited I was able to book Palo brunch! I fell asleep Friday and was afraid it would be gone. I was shocked at all the options still available on Saturday!I also booked the stingray adventure for Castaway. Has anyone done this?

I can't believe we are less than 4 months out and I still haven't planned anything! I should probably get started on the wedding soon!

 

[JustTJ]

You all had me confused for a moment with the talk of having Palo now booked! You all must be a level or more up from me, as I know my booking window isn't for a few more weeks yet.

I booked our one day car rental through budget. Funny thing there is I would pay MORE if I used a special code than if I didn't use any promotional code at all! Go figure! So Hotel, Flights, car, and cruise, all paid for.
I also found out we now have a room assignment for the 2nd leg of our B2B, and I'm not sure I'm very happy with it. It's on the very front of the ship, which is fine with me really, but I'd really like a dividing curtain and it MUST have a bed that drops out of the ceiling. I'm sure room 6004 may have the drop down bed, but I don't think it has a dividing curtain. I've emailed my TA, so we'll see what she can find out for us. We're still GTY for the first part of the B2B, so I'll assume that means we won't have the same stateroom. No worries there though, it would have been nice, but it's not a clincher for me.
117 days from today????

 

[ragdoll]

David, Happy Anniversary! Can't think of a better way to celebrate! Well, maybe a DCL cruise would be a bit better but I would be happy at WDW.

Can't believe that our cruise is getting so close, especially since it still seems like winter here. Still cold and rainy. Yuck! Only in the 40's today.

Wouldn't you all think that my daughter, the bride, would be excitedly planning her wedding? In another two months she will be in a panic. She and I are such procrastinators. Why do something today that can be done tomorrow? Good thing that DCL does most of the planning.

Donna

 

[GetGlowing]

@Retroloco -- I have no idea how long the drive is. LOL! We drive down 3.5 hours from Tennessee and then stay with family in Columbia so we can really start our drive the next morning. We meander, though, to Florida, and take I-95 as little as possible. We have a convertible, so we just drop the top and enjoy the drive and getting away from the craziness of the Interstate.

 

[Shannon1984]

We will be staying at CI&S as well. we are leaving after school on Friday so we hope to make it there by 11 or so on Saturday. We have 8 people in our group! We also paid @130. We did the park and cruise package. It saved a lot on parking at the port.

I am also very excited I was able to book Palo brunch! I fell asleep Friday and was afraid it would be gone. I was shocked at all the options still available on Saturday!I also booked the stingray adventure for Castaway. Has anyone done this?

I can't believe we are less than 4 months out and I still haven't planned anything! I should probably get started on the wedding soon!

Exactly, I have a wedding dress all I have to do is show up right? Thank God we chose the ship. It would have taken me 10 years to plan a whole wedding here